Swenson Lake

How big is Swenson Lake?

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What kind of fish can you catch in Swenson Lake?

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A targeted fall night electrofishing survey was conducted on Swenson during September 19, 2023 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to a fry stocking. Two stations were sampled for a total of 20 minutes during the 2023 fall electrofishing survey. The water temperature was 72 F. Clarity was less than 1 foot. Blue-green algae bloom was severe. We observed abundant numbers of YOY Bluegill; moderate numbers of adult Bluegill and Walleye; low numbers of Common Carp, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass).

Swenson is a small (108 acres), shallow (14 feet maximum), aerated and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. A helixor aeration system is operated each winter. A partial winterkill (Walleye, Bigmouth Buffalo and Common Carp) occurred in late February or early March of 2023 due to low oxygen caused by heavy snowfall and prolonged winter into March. Three single frame 1/2 inch bar mesh trapnets were set on May 30, 2023 to assess winterkill in Swenson. We captured a variety of gamefish and non-gamefish species in the 2023 May trapnets.

Walleye natural reproduction in Swenson is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous surveys and markings. Walleye fry (Spicer Strain) were last stocked into Swenson during 2023 (50,842 fry). Walleye fry were also stocked in 2021 (105,525 Spicer Strain fry) and 2018 (100,000 Pike River Strain fry). Walleye frylings (OTC marked) were stocked into Swenson during 2009 (27,000 Pike/Red River strain fish), 2010 (40,062 Pike River Strain fish), 2012 (31,218 Pike River Strain fish), 2014 (31,690 Pike River Strain fish) and 2016 (27,014 Spicer Strain fish). Walleye fingerlings and yearlings were last stocked into Swenson during 2012 (126 fingerlings, 21 pounds; 565 yearlings, 226 pounds) after the fall electrofishing survey.

YOY Walleye numbers were abundant (117.00/hour, 5.57 inches) in the 2023 fall night electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye numbers were abundant in 2018 (163.33 YOY/hour, 5.49 inches) and 2016 (136.00 YOY/hour, 4.97 inches) fall electrofishing surveys. Oxytetracycline "OTC" marked fish accounted for 54.2% of the 2016 Fall YOY Walleye catch. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (210.00 YOY/hour, 6.12 inches average length) were also captured in the 2014 fall electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye numbers were low (9.00 YOY/hour, 6.77 inches) in 2012. YOY Walleye abundance was high in 2010(63.00 YOY/hour, 5.91 inches), but low in the 2009 (3.00 YOY/hour, 4.69 inches) fall electrofishing survey. All of the YOY Walleye captured in 2010 were OTC marked fish from a 2010 early summer Walleye fryling stocking. No yearling Walleye were caught in 2023, 2018 or 2016. Abundant numbers of age 2 (2021 year class) Walleye (66.00/hour, 13.10 inches) were caught in the 2023 fall electrofishing survey.

Walleye abundance in the 2019 summer survey (5.00 fish/gillnet) was below the historical average catch rate of 8.54 fish/gillnet for Swenson. The 2019 Walleye average weight and length were 2.29 pounds and 18.61 inches from gillnets. The Walleye historical average weight is 1.68 pounds from gillnets. The 2019 catch rate of quality size (15.00 inches and larger) Walleye was 5.00 fish/gillnet. Walleye growth rates were with the Spicer Area normal ranges. The 2016 year class (fryling stocked) comprised 43% of the 2019 Walleye survey catch.

The Swenson Lake fishery will be surveyed in the 2024 summer for all fish species. Fall electrofishing surveys will be conducted periodically during Walleye fry stocked years to assess the success or failure of the stockings.

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Are there any state parks near Swenson Lake?